Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writer.
I’m a student at Somerville High School and can’t vote yet, but I know that I support Willie Burnley Jr. for mayor of Somerville.
Burnley, 31, has shown that he knows how to get the job done. He’s introduced and passed a dozen ordinances, including the Safe Streets ordinance, one of my favorites. It increases accessible parking throughout the city, makes sidewalks and crosswalks more accessible, mandates increased transparency regarding road change, and sets a timeline to fully implement protected bike lanes in the bicycle network plan by 2030. This is important to me because I bike, and these lanes already exist on my route to school. Without them I wouldn’t feel safe enough to bike to school.
I also believe Burnley is a fighter for the lower and middle class of Somerville. He himself is a renter and was once priced out of Somerville. As councilor, he introduced an ordinance ending forced broker fees, leading to a ban state-wide. He also passed an ordinance requiring landlords to give a city-approved “know your rights” document to their tenants in their primary language. He is committed to creating an Office of Social Housing to develop permanently affordable housing that can’t be messed with by private landlords or developers
While both candidates hold progressive values, there are important differences between them. For one, Burnley is committed to fully funding our schools, while Wilson said at a mayoral forum Sept. 6 “It would be foolhardy to commit to an arbitrary number for any department.” Burnley is not accepting any for-profit developer donations. Wilson committed to not taking developer money, then broke that promise this mayoral race. That makes me question his commitment to affordable housing.
Willie Burnley Jr. (Photo: Julia Levine)
But then, Wilson seems to have a tendency to make unsubstantiated claims to support his views. In his explanation of why he doesn’t support Question 3, the Somerville for Palestine initiative, he cited Massachusetts general law 30b, Sec. 5 (e), which he says prohibits boycotting and divesting. His claim seems absurd considering the Somerville City Council has passed multiple ordinances in the past boycotting and divesting (from prison labor in 2020 and South Africa in 1988). Wilson has also said that if the ballot question passes and he becomes mayor, he will not follow it because of its “legal implications.” He has also cited “the federal supremacy clause” as a reason why he will not interfere with ICE, even though local and state governments defy this clause regularly. Instead, he hopes to limit data-sharing and cooperation with them, the bare minimum of resistance. Burnley, on the other hand, is committed to fighting back. He has pledged to refuse any federal money that comes with strings attached forcing us to cooperate with ICE.
Now, in a time in the United States with a president who wants to be a dictator, attacks everything we love, every value we have, and has a Congress who submits to him, it’s time for change. And we can do this on the local level, by focusing on the issues in our city and combating the federal threats. Now is not the time for an average administration that watches the state of our country go crashing down and the cost of living go soaring up. We have the opportunity to elect Somerville’s first black mayor, one of our youngest ever, and one who is actually pragmatic, fights back, and knows how to get things done. Let’s not pass up on it.
The writer is a freshman at Somerville High School.
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Willie Burnley has my support (if not my vote)
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Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writer.
I’m a student at Somerville High School and can’t vote yet, but I know that I support Willie Burnley Jr. for mayor of Somerville.
Burnley, 31, has shown that he knows how to get the job done. He’s introduced and passed a dozen ordinances, including the Safe Streets ordinance, one of my favorites. It increases accessible parking throughout the city, makes sidewalks and crosswalks more accessible, mandates increased transparency regarding road change, and sets a timeline to fully implement protected bike lanes in the bicycle network plan by 2030. This is important to me because I bike, and these lanes already exist on my route to school. Without them I wouldn’t feel safe enough to bike to school.
I also believe Burnley is a fighter for the lower and middle class of Somerville. He himself is a renter and was once priced out of Somerville. As councilor, he introduced an ordinance ending forced broker fees, leading to a ban state-wide. He also passed an ordinance requiring landlords to give a city-approved “know your rights” document to their tenants in their primary language. He is committed to creating an Office of Social Housing to develop permanently affordable housing that can’t be messed with by private landlords or developers
While both candidates hold progressive values, there are important differences between them. For one, Burnley is committed to fully funding our schools, while Wilson said at a mayoral forum Sept. 6 “It would be foolhardy to commit to an arbitrary number for any department.” Burnley is not accepting any for-profit developer donations. Wilson committed to not taking developer money, then broke that promise this mayoral race. That makes me question his commitment to affordable housing.
But then, Wilson seems to have a tendency to make unsubstantiated claims to support his views. In his explanation of why he doesn’t support Question 3, the Somerville for Palestine initiative, he cited Massachusetts general law 30b, Sec. 5 (e), which he says prohibits boycotting and divesting. His claim seems absurd considering the Somerville City Council has passed multiple ordinances in the past boycotting and divesting (from prison labor in 2020 and South Africa in 1988). Wilson has also said that if the ballot question passes and he becomes mayor, he will not follow it because of its “legal implications.” He has also cited “the federal supremacy clause” as a reason why he will not interfere with ICE, even though local and state governments defy this clause regularly. Instead, he hopes to limit data-sharing and cooperation with them, the bare minimum of resistance. Burnley, on the other hand, is committed to fighting back. He has pledged to refuse any federal money that comes with strings attached forcing us to cooperate with ICE.
Now, in a time in the United States with a president who wants to be a dictator, attacks everything we love, every value we have, and has a Congress who submits to him, it’s time for change. And we can do this on the local level, by focusing on the issues in our city and combating the federal threats. Now is not the time for an average administration that watches the state of our country go crashing down and the cost of living go soaring up. We have the opportunity to elect Somerville’s first black mayor, one of our youngest ever, and one who is actually pragmatic, fights back, and knows how to get things done. Let’s not pass up on it.
The writer is a freshman at Somerville High School.
Like this:
Related Stories
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.